thanks karl and jeff...i havent seen the van in person yet, just going by
pics and the current owner doesn't know much about it. its a canadian spec
1.9L wbx.  i thought it could be some goofy cold start knob manual  choke as
the van has both engine and tranny block heaters as  well,  but the latest
consensus is that its most likely a gas heater  knob that was replaced by a
different style knob.   current owner says  there is a 'large metal sheet
covering the underbelly of the van"  so this  sounds right.

In a message dated 3/7/2017 1:33:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
tdiguru@WESTYVENTURES.COM writes:

Oh - no  wbx ever used this, no reason to have it. Only  diesels.